Ten foreigners were detained on Thursday in Britain on the grounds that they pose a threat to national security, Sky News television reported.

Home Secretary Charles Clarke has ordered their deportation, saying their presence is "not conducive to the public good."

"The circumstances of our national security have changed. It is vital that we act against those who threaten it," he said.

"In accordance with my powers to deport individuals whose presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good for reasons of national security, the immigration service has today detained ten foreign nationals who I believe pose a threat to national security," Clarke said in a statement, adding that they will be held in secure prison service accommodation.

The 10 people were detained in London, the West Midlands, Leicestershire and Bedfordshire under the Immigration Act.

Following months of diplomatic work, Clarke said, "we now have good reason to believe that we can get the necessary assurances from the countries to which we will return the deportees so that they will not be subject to torture or ill-treatment."

Jordanian-born Abu Qatada, the cleric described as al Qaida's spiritual ambassador in Europe, was among the 10 detained. He has lived in Britain for 12 years and is currently the subject of a control order at his London home.

Control orders were imposed after the government's policy of detaining foreign terror suspects without charge was ruled unlawful by the Law Lords.

The detentions were made following Britain's signing of an agreement with Jordan on Wednesday ensuring deportees would not be mistreated on their return. Those detained include Jordanians, Lebanese, Algerians and other north Africans.

Prime Minister Tony Blair also had "constructive conversations" with authorities in Algeria and Lebanon last week over measures to guarantee the safety of deportees.

Last week, Blair unveiled a series of anti-terror measures which include the deportation of foreign nationals who preach religious hatred and Islamic extremism.

Source: Xinhua